BINGE drinkers are less intelligent IQs than people who don't, a study has found.

We found that lower results on IQ tests in Swedish adolescent men are associated with a higher consumption of alcohol, measured in both terms of total intake and binge drinkin

Sara Sjolund

Researchers discovered that while those with an above average alcohol intake have a lower than average IQ, it was the lack of intelligence that led to the increased drinking - not the other way round.

The research, published by the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, surveyed 50,000 young adult men and was carried out by academics at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Public health professor Daniel Falkstedt said: "In this study of a general population, intelligence probably comes before the behaviour, in this case, alcohol consumption and a pattern of drinking in late adolescence.

"It could be the other way around for a minority of individuals, that is, when exposure to alcohol has led to cognitive impairment, but this is less likely to be found among young persons."

Even adjusting for other factors, such as education, social status and economic background, there was a clear link between low IQ as young men and subsequent alcoholism problems.

The data included a psychological questionnaire on drinking habits and behaviour and general IQ tests conducted on army recruits in the seventies.

Researcher Sara Sjolund added: "We found that lower results on IQ tests in Swedish adolescent men are associated with a higher consumption of alcohol, measured in both terms of total intake and binge drinking.

"It may be that a higher IQ results in healthier lifestyle choices.

"Suggested explanations for the association between IQ and different health outcomes, could be childhood conditions, which could influence both IQ and health, or that a socio-economic position as an adult mediates the association."